Fans should realize we are still in rebuilding mode.

[Malazan]

really?

 

jw

 

 

So the Bills locker room is in Chaos?

[HansLanda]

Why do we have to jump on the ownership for every front office move. Go yell at Buddy and Chan as this is their choice.

 

Buddy builds his team with "bigger" people. One of the reasons he brought Craig Davis from SD to here. While I think they traded the wrong WR (Parrish instead of Evans), I don't think the owner has anything to do here. As another poster said, this franchise should have had a Buddy kind of GM in 2000...They hoped Donahoe would have been that, but all he waanted was revenge against the Steeler (For kicking him out in favor of the Chin).

 

Fair enough, but do you honestly think this franchise can be a contender again with its current owner? I like Buddy and Chan just as much as the next guy, and while the Evans move probably wasn't 100% about salary dumping, they still clearly have to work within a small budget.

 

Buster Davis is not a savior or a drag and drop for Evans. I'd be surprised if he even made the team.

[JohnC]

I agree with you too JohnC, but let's hope that the boss doesn't get impatient with this building and growing of the team amidst a few more years of losing seasons, and decides to hire someone new again.

 

I have little regard for the Bills' buffoon owner. But in this situation the owner is on board and supportive with Nix's plan to re-stock the bedraggled team he took over. So to be fair I have to give credit to the owner on this issue. RW has been convinced by Nix that the haphazard and ad hoc way the franchise has been run is futile. Having a blueprint and sticking with it is the right approach to take.

 

As I stated in a prior posting the best way to measure the success in Nix's draft first to rebuild strategy is to observe how his last year's draft class is contributing this year. Then, the measure next year is how is this year's draft class, in general, performing next year.

 

The Bills' won/lost record this year is not going to be good. However, if the base of young players develop then one can say that this franchise is finally on the right track. Being a Bills' fan is not for the faint of heart.

[JohnC]

 

was this Buddy's trade?

 

jw

 

Absolutely, this was Buddy's trade. He knows what his budget is and what he has to work with. And, as a GM he knows who he needs to keep and who not to keep. So if you are asking if there were money considerations involved in the Evans trade, then again I say absolutely. The cap system in any pro sport by its nature intertwines player decisions with financial decisions. It's the nature of the beast.

 

If you stand back and let the heat of the trade cool off and consider at what stage this team is at this trade does make sense. I'm not saying anyone has to agree with the move. But with some dispassionate thought there is an understandable rational to it.

 

The best part of the trade is what it does for Lee Evnas. I'm happy for him that he is in a better football situation. After what he has been through with this very flimsy and chaotic organization he deserves to go to a more competitive and sophisticatedly run operation.

Edited August 13, 2011 by JohnC

[JohnC]

This is nothing but a reaction to a reaction.

 

How about listing some of the more eye-opening accomplishments that this front office has made in the last couple of years? Specifically, moves that have been made that were shrewd and really showed this front office is the cream of the NFL.

 

If you expect magic then you are going to be disappointed with this Nix regime. If you have a standard of excellence that is thought in terms of being the cream of the crop then again you are going to be disappointed with the Nix regime. This is a Ralph Wilson owned franchise. Don't forget that reality. When you are working in a straight-jacket then don't expect to be able to throw the same amount of punches that your unencumbered oppenent can throw.

 

The fairest way to judge Buddy is on how he drafts and how his selected players develop. I'm confident that he is a significant upgrade from the dismal performances of his predecessors. As I have noted before the best way to judge Buddy is on how his last year's drafted players perform this year and this year's drafted players perform next year.

 

Buddy is not the type of GM who is shrewd enough to outmaneuver and outsmart the other GMs. We had that fraudulent exhibition of genius in Donahoe. The only person he outsmarted was himself. Nix is a bread and potato type GM. He is wise enough to know what needs to be done and has the fortitude and confidence to stick with what he knows has to be done.

[Bob in STL]

The only thing I am dissappointed in is the 4th round pick for him. Thought it was a bit low (3rd sounds realistic). But other than that Evans is a one dimensional WR with fly route capabilities that can't run the crucial underneath and timing routes in the NFL. He does not make or break our offense and has pretty much been invisible for a number of years now. Did we really lose a leader? I dunno, I never seen it on the field. Was he a class act? Sure.

 

However, I don't mind dumping his salary for the sacrifice of the rebuild, locking up guys like Williams and Stevie long term, hopefully have a top 3 draft pick next year and make a splash next offseason in fa to polish the turd into one shiny one.

 

We are not winning this year anyways. Its not that bad people.

 

Wow. I commend the optimism but some reality please. This team has been rebuilding for how long? A fourth round pick is not much for one of our better players.

 

I think a likely scenario is that Evans has a great season for Baltimore and our 4th round pick becomes more like a 5th. Then we find out our WR talent is less than we thought so we draft a WR in the first two rounds as we continue to fill the same holes over and over again.

 

Meanwhile, we will pick up more "future starting tackles" from other teams practice squads.

 

Some people think this is dumping a salary but we are so far under the cap why bother? I truly think the Bills want to see what the young kids can do at WR. So now Easly needs to play and Johnson and Nelson need to continue to improve. Buster whats-his-face is another wild card in the mix.

 

I would have loved to acquire a player for Lee Evans, especially a quality OT that can swing from right to left. Now that would have been a good move. Teams that draft well and develop OT's apparently don't like to give them up. Hear that Buddy?

[Ghost of Rob Johnson]

PFT Article, sorry if posted:

 

Bills made smart, decisive move to dump Evans

 

First, Evans had the worst season statistically of his career in 2010, which also happened to be the first season featuring Ryan Fitzpatrick as the full-time starter. If those two simply don’t click like they should, there’s no reason to keep Evans around.

 

Second, Steve Johnson has emerged as the No. 1 wideout. That changing of the guard can create awkwardness and discomfort in the locker room. It makes sense to remove that dynamic before it gets in the way of what could be a better season than expected.

 

Third, with Johnson drawing double coverage based on his breakout performance in 2010, the Bills can plug in cheaper options at No. 2 and enjoy similar production.

 

Fourth, while Evans was one of the best players throughout a bad stretch for the Bills, he has only two 1,000-yard years in seven NFL seasons, and he’s a zero-time Pro Bowler.

 

Fifth, and perhaps most importantly, coach Chan Gailey has had a full year to study Evans, and Gailey has decided that, for whatever reason, Evans no longer justified the $3.3 million he was due to earn each of the next two years.

 

Right or wrong, the Bills seem to be a no-nonsense bunch under G.M. Buddy Nix. Sure, some of their decisions will end up being wrong (and every team that makes decisions will make some bad decisions from time to time), but the Bills are trying to get better, even if to the casual fan a trade of one of the few widely-recognizable names on the team looks like the opposite.

[DrDawkinstein]

Wow. I commend the optimism but some reality please. This team has been rebuilding for how long? A fourth round pick is not much for one of our better players.

 

I think a likely scenario is that Evans has a great season for Baltimore and our 4th round pick becomes more like a 5th. Then we find out our WR talent is less than we thought so we draft a WR in the first two rounds as we continue to fill the same holes over and over again.

 

Meanwhile, we will pick up more "future starting tackles" from other teams practice squads.

 

Some people think this is dumping a salary but we are so far under the cap why bother? I truly think the Bills want to see what the young kids can do at WR. So now Easly needs to play and Johnson and Nelson need to continue to improve. Buster whats-his-face is another wild card in the mix.

 

I would have loved to acquire a player for Lee Evans, especially a quality OT that can swing from right to left. Now that would have been a good move. Teams that draft well and develop OT's apparently don't like to give them up. Hear that Buddy?

 

 

About 20 months. Just finished the 2nd draft/FA period, and no games have been played yet in year 2 of an admitted 3-4 year plan.

 

Based on what we've been told and shown from that plan, coupled with the fact that Evans is 30 and has 2 years left on his contract, its obvious Evans would not be around for when we turned the corner.

 

The plan is to build through the draft, and then supplement with FAs once you start winning with your base.

 

We just got very good value for a "good" aging vet who only runs one route.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

...

 

Yeah, some people have made points. But I still think it was a ****ty deal.

 

Lee Evans came off his worst week ever last season. But even so, a fourth round draft pick? Really? Really? I wouldn't be opposed to it if we: A) Actually had gotten someone *proven* in return. Not spectacular, *proven*. Someone to make a solid O-line, D-line or Linebacking Corps. or-

 

B) We had a better history in the draft. At this point, honestly, other then Stevie Johnson, who can we look at and say: "That was a phenomenal choice we took after the third round?"

 

I would like to remind everyone that the Bills have a history of having their best receivers be the 2nd and slot guys. While I am overjoyed that Roscoe was used well last season and Johnson showed amazing growth, do we think that we have the WR corps to back up Johnson? I hope Brad Smith stays healthy and can fill in for number 2, because I don't think Roscoe can do it.

[Bob in STL]

About 20 months. Just finished the 2nd draft/FA period, and no games have been played yet in year 2 of an admitted 3-4 year plan.

 

Based on what we've been told and shown from that plan, coupled with the fact that Evans is 30 and has 2 years left on his contract, its obvious Evans would not be around for when we turned the corner.

 

The plan is to build through the draft, and then supplement with FAs once you start winning with your base.

 

We just got very good value for a "good" aging vet who only runs one route.

 

 

I understand the plan and all that. 3-4 years of "building through the draft" means we have to draft good players. We shall see.

[Billsfanatic19]

The only thing I am dissappointed in is the 4th round pick for him. Thought it was a bit low (3rd sounds realistic). But other than that Evans is a one dimensional WR with fly route capabilities that can't run the crucial underneath and timing routes in the NFL. He does not make or break our offense and has pretty much been invisible for a number of years now. Did we really lose a leader? I dunno, I never seen it on the field. Was he a class act? Sure.

 

However, I don't mind dumping his salary for the sacrifice of the rebuild, locking up guys like Williams and Stevie long term, hopefully have a top 3 draft pick next year and make a splash next offseason in fa to polish the turd into one shiny one.

 

We are not winning this year anyways. Its not that bad people.

 

Are you kidding me! we havent made the playoffs in over ten years how long do you think a rebuilding stage takes 50 years? Your hoping for a top 3 draft pick? You play to win not for the draft.

[billykaykay]

The accumulation of another draft pick, while not a big deal in & of itself, gives the team one more arrow in its quiver for trading up in next years draft.

[RuntheDamnBall]

You don't "open a roster spot" for Naaman !@#$ing Roosevelt by getting rid of the most accomplished player on your entire roster when his value is the lowest its been in his entire career. How can people not see this?

This x 1000.

 

Are you kidding me! we havent made the playoffs in over ten years how long do you think a rebuilding stage takes 50 years? Your hoping for a top 3 draft pick? You play to win not for the draft.

Bills fans are so warped by this abusive relationship that we're convinced the only day we can win on anymore is draft day.

[Trader]

The only thing I am dissappointed in is the 4th round pick for him. Thought it was a bit low (3rd sounds realistic). But other than that Evans is a one dimensional WR with fly route capabilities that can't run the crucial underneath and timing routes in the NFL. He does not make or break our offense and has pretty much been invisible for a number of years now. Did we really lose a leader? I dunno, I never seen it on the field. Was he a class act? Sure.

 

However, I don't mind dumping his salary for the sacrifice of the rebuild, locking up guys like Williams and Stevie long term, hopefully have a top 3 draft pick next year and make a splash next offseason in fa to polish the turd into one shiny one.

 

We are not winning this year anyways. Its not that bad people.

 

I agree 100% the Bills are in a rebuilding mode. What they are rebuilding is the value of the Buffalo Bills franchise when it is auctioned off to the highest bidder. The Bills are creating positive cash flow which can be used to justify the 1 billion dollar bid that the franchise is looking for when it goes up for sale. You had something else in mind?

[mrags]

Fwiw, I don't think Fitz came out and said anything to do with this trade personally ut with the play last year and so far this year in camp he has shown that he is not on the same page as Lee. I know Lee is a stand-up guy but why wasn't he at Camp Fitz in Arizona? All the other WRs were there. Some, if not all the RBs were there. I don't bla e Fitz for not getting him the ball. Lee made no attempt to get on the same page as his QB. You hear it all over the league, Manning and Harrison, Manning and Wayne, Brees and his WRs, Ryan and White. The true tag teams at QB and WR work together and get on the same page.

Fitz had a good rep with Stevie from day 1 and it showed last year that the young guys could produce as well.

Someone posted earlier... Does trading Evans make the team better this year? No! But it doesn't make us much worse based on his 40 or so receptions and only 4TDs last year. Does it open up the potential for our young guys on the squad to come in and prove something? Absofreakinglutely! Would Lee have been here after his contract was over? Absolutely not! Does it give us another bullit in the gun next years draft to either package and trade up or get another blue chipper at one of the lines or LBs as a backup? Yes!

 

Good luck to Lee in Baltimore. I guess we will all find out by the end of the year how good he really was/is, all while seeing if Stevie really is a true #1.

[BuffaloBillsMagic1]

Our shrewd GM does minimal in Free agency except signing backups and not adressing TEs or OT in draft or free agency so yeah , we will always be rebuilding as we don't sign starers anyway. Good excuse as to why we never win for our coach and GM. Jets go from laughing stock to AFC Champ games in pne year with new coach, minimal picks but agressive FA moves. We are a hamster in a cage spinnign his wheels.

[DefenseWins]

Why does everyone want to extend Fitz? Can we please all realize that he isnt an elite QB.They were smart enough to get rid of Evans.Extending Fitz would be one step forward and two steps backward.

 

 

 

Yeah, in fact, since Fitz and Freddie won't be around to see them get good, Let's just cut or trade them too. They're only mid level not high end players....

[Sisyphean Bills]

If you expect magic then you are going to be disappointed with this Nix regime. If you have a standard of excellence that is thought in terms of being the cream of the crop then again you are going to be disappointed with the Nix regime. This is a Ralph Wilson owned franchise. Don't forget that reality. When you are working in a straight-jacket then don't expect to be able to throw the same amount of punches that your unencumbered oppenent can throw.

You realize that you are preaching to the preacher, right?

 

If the Bills want to be taken seriously by the rest of the football world, then they ought to have one goal: excellence and winning a Super Bowl. Mere existence isn't aiming high.

 

It's very, very telling to me, by the way, that you answered my question in this way. It tells me everything about your poker hand.

The fairest way to judge Buddy is on how he drafts and how his selected players develop. I'm confident that he is a significant upgrade from the dismal performances of his predecessors. As I have noted before the best way to judge Buddy is on how his last year's drafted players perform this year and this year's drafted players perform next year.

 

Buddy is not the type of GM who is shrewd enough to outmaneuver and outsmart the other GMs. We had that fraudulent exhibition of genius in Donahoe. The only person he outsmarted was himself. Nix is a bread and potato type GM. He is wise enough to know what needs to be done and has the fortitude and confidence to stick with what he knows has to be done.

Shouldn't that be "meat and potatoes"? Or in Buddy's case, more like fried chicken and green beans & bacon.

 

Anyway, as far as the football, I don't share your confidence. Buddy will draft the best player available and has filled the gaps with other teams' practice squad players. The bar was set pretty low for his 1st draft class last year and they made essentially no contribution to one of the worst teams in the NFL. Indeed, some of the street UDFAs made more plays last year than the draft picks. The "wait til next year" comments are a given, of course, but the initial vector wasn't pointing up. Furthermore, Buddy was brought in as a consultant before the previous draft. It's unclear if he vocalized his misgivings about Maybin or why he was ignored if he did. The rest of that draft is looking a little more pedestrian after a 2 year view: a pair of guards taken high and a slow CB converted to S for a Tampa-2 that struggled adapting to a down-hill double read system ... and nothing much else.

 

So, while I hope you are right and Buddy can start hitting across the entire draft on the Bills picks, I'll wait for the baby before breaking out the cigars and declaring another hollow "Hurrah! Today's business as usual is different."

[Sisyphean Bills]

Wow. I commend the optimism but some reality please. This team has been rebuilding for how long?

Your question was about the team: Last winning season was 7 years ago. Last time in the playoffs was 11.

 

If your question had been about Nix: He has been the GM for 20 months, but "rebuilding" would be the wrong verb. Unless his function is to rebuild a really bad team into a newer brand of really bad team. Hmm... on second thought...

[JohnC]

You realize that you are preaching to the preacher, right?

 

If the Bills want to be taken seriously by the rest of the football world, then they ought to have one goal: excellence and winning a Super Bowl. Mere existence isn't aiming high.

 

The Raiders have Al Davis. The Bengals have Mike Brown. The Bills have Ralph Wilson. These organizations reflect the caliber of their ownerships. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. If you want to discuss excellence and the quest for winning a Super Bowl that is fine. But what it takes to pursue excellence is not going to come from where it needs to come, first and foremost: the owner. You are astute enough to recognize that after a half century of running this franchise in a certain tight-fisted way there are some things that are simply not attainable. I don't consider myself to be a cynic or prefer pursuing a lower standard because it is easier to do than pursuing excellence. However, I'm at the point where I want to see this franchise run in a reasonably competent manner within the confines of its owner driven limitations

 

It's very, very telling to me, by the way, that you answered my question in this way. It tells me everything about your poker hand.

 

I have no clue what you mean. I would be interested to know what you meant.

 

Shouldn't that be "meat and potatoes"? Or in Buddy's case, more like fried chicken and green beans & bacon.

 

Anyway, as far as the football, I don't share your confidence. Buddy will draft the best player available and has filled the gaps with other teams' practice squad players. The bar was set pretty low for his 1st draft class last year and they made essentially no contribution to one of the worst teams in the NFL. Indeed, some of the street UDFAs made more plays last year than the draft picks. The "wait til next year" comments are a given, of course, but the initial vector wasn't pointing up. Furthermore, Buddy was brought in as a consultant before the previous draft. It's unclear if he vocalized his misgivings about Maybin or why he was ignored if he did. The rest of that draft is looking a little more pedestrian after a 2 year view: a pair of guards taken high and a slow CB converted to S for a Tampa-2 that struggled adapting to a down-hill double read system ... and nothing much else.

 

Nix has stated that he wouldn't have drafted a player such as Maybin because of his lack of college experience. Is he telling the truth? I think he is. As far as being a consultant I don't believe he had the authority to make the picks. I put the onus on the people in position of authority at the time-----Jauron/Levy/Brandon/Modrak. Do I know for sure who he recommended? As an outsider, not really. Not having a defined organizational system of authority is a classic example of management ineptitude.

 

So, while I hope you are right and Buddy can start hitting across the entire draft on the Bills picks, I'll wait for the baby before breaking out the cigars and declaring another hollow "Hurrah! Today's business as usual is different."

 

As I have stated in other postings the best way to judge Nix's competence is to judge last year's draftees performances and contributions this year. This year's draft should be judged by their performances next year. There is no quick fix. It is going to take time. Buddy certainly isn't a genius but I do believe he is competent. Only time will tell.